Pocket knife



y- 3, 1952 G. M. SCHRADE 2,596,294

POCKET KNIFE Filed July 6, 1949 INVENTOR. BEER E'E M SCHRAHE J A 'ORHEY Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POCKET KNIFE George M. Schrade, Bridgeport, Conn. Application July 6, 1949, Serial No. 103,230

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pocket knives and has particular relation to improvements in the type of pocket knife disclosed in my Patent No. 2,270,851 of January 27, 1942.

An object of the invention is to provide a pocket knife of a construction particularly lending itself to inexpensive methods of manufacture.

Another object is to provide a pocket knife including a lock or catch for the blade, such lock or catch providing a safety feature preventing accidental closing of the blade.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the knife of the invention with the blade thereof in open position and showing also by dotted lines the position of the blade when closed;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the knife with the blade in open position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the knife with the blade in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the knife as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail side elevational view showing the construction at the place where the blade and handle of the knife are pivoted together;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the lock or safety catch; and.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of one element of the wire handle.

Referring in detail .to the drawing, the knife of the invention includes a handle, generally designated l0, and a blade, generally designated H, such parts being pivotally connected as by a rivet l2. Handle comprises a pair of parts or elements l3 and I4, each formed of a single length of relatively heavy gage wire bent upon itself intermediate its ends as at and then including an upper arm I5 and a lower arm l1. It is noted that the bends l5 are relatively open so there is no sharp forming of the hard spring wire.

In the handle sections [3 and I4, the arms H comprise a spring back for the completed knife while the arms l6 comprise side portions of the knife handle and the medium whereby or through which the handle and blade of the knife are pivotally connected. This last is true as the forward portions of the arms l6 are flatted as at l8 and these fiatted end portions have the rivet 12 passing through them and through the inner or thickened portion of the blade H.

The arms ll of the handle parts or elements l3 and 14 are arranged in side-by-side relation as shown and toward their blunt free ends I9 are rigidly secured together by welding, the weld in the present instance being designated 20. From their blunt free ends I9, the arms l5 extend rearwardly in parallel relation but the parts or elements I3 and [4 are not entirely parallel as they tend to diverge in their bight portions l5 so that their arms 16 are in slightly spaced relation, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3.. However, these arms, toward their flatted end portions l8, tend toward one another and such end portions receive the blunt or tang end of the blade i I between them.

On their upper sides, the portions of the arms ll toward the ends 19 thereof are preferably flatted as at 21. Also, the arms I! towards their blunt ends 19 and in their opposing upper edge portions are provided with recesses 23 which receive the rear edge of the blade tang when the blade is open and which receive the front edge of the blade tang when the blade is closed. In the open position of the blade, the back edge portion of its tang being received in the recesses 23, the blade is supported against lateral movement relative to the handle. Intermediate its ends, arms iii of the handle elements I3 and M are inwardly bent as at 24 to provide finger openings so that the blade may be gripped for pulling it from closed to open position.

I-Ieretofore, in the making of a wire handle for a pocket knife such, for example, as that disclosed in my patent above referred to, a single piece of wire is used and this necessitates the making of a sharp bend in the wire at that location represented by the blunt ends is of the arms ll of the handle element in the present case. The wire used in making these handles is hard and the making of this sharp bend so that the portions of the wire at opposite sides of the bend are against one another frequently results in breaking or cracking of the wire. If the wire is softened so as to permit of this sharp bending operation, then in the finished knife the proper spring ac- 3 tion between the handle and the blade is not available.

According to the present invention, the handle comprises the two separate elements l3 and I l, each made of a piece of wire having the relatively open bend or bight 15. Another advantage of the present construction is that the elements or parts I3 and I4 each comprise a relatively short length of wire which may be handled in the commercial four slide machine. Where the handle is made of but a single length of wire, the wire is of slightly greater than twice the length of the wire used for the forming of theparts or elements l3 and I4 and is of too great a length to be handled in the above mentioned automatic wire forming machinery of standard construction.

The present knife includes an additional fea' ture comprising an automatic latching means for securing the blade H in open position and for securing it against casual movement ;t o closed position. This is particularly advantageous when the knife-blade is of the type provided with teeth along itsrearv edge for the scaling of ,fish and the like. teeth, along its rearedge to the work, a pressure is exerted and there is a tendency to close the bladeand thismay result in serious cutting of the fingers or handof -the user,

When ,such aknife is usedapplyingthe According to the presentinve'ntionthe latch 7 device, generally designated .25 and shown alone 1 in Fig. '7, is incorporated in the.knife.., This device is shown as blanked fromasingle piece of metal and includes a flat body 26. having an opening 21 therethrol gh for the passageof the rivet l2, as will be described. Additionally, integral with the body is. a finger-like lug v.or-tang 28 depending from the forward ,end of the body and an inclined or offset portion 29 at the inner end of the. body and an oifset spring finger 33 at the upper edge of the body. j W V The latch device 25 is. mounted between 'the forward portions of the armsit ofthe'handle parts or elements is and i l with the flat body of such latch against one side of the rear or tang portion of the blade H. Then theprojection or Y tang 28 of the device extends downwardly-against the square or abrupt ends iQof-the' handlearms Ilwhile the offset rearportion 29 ofthe body rests against thefiat -21 of saidarm ll; --Thus,

tang'28 prevents rotation or turning of-the device 25 about-the pivot I! with the blade H as the latter is swung toopenposition. .Offset 29 ex tending angularly of the fiat 2|" provides ,a-bear- -ing surface which will not slip off said fiatas would possibly occur. if the portion 29were not offset but was in the planes of the body: 26 of device 25. When the knife blade is. closed, the

. offset spring fingertfl of the latch extends slightly across the back edge 22 of thetang of the blade. I

However, at this time the latch .25 has no function. .When the blade is rocked to. open position, it cams against the side of .the spring finger 3i? forcing the latter out of the .way....Then.when the blade reaches fully open position, as in Figs. --1,-2 and 5, the spring fingerfiil projects somewhat across the forward or inner edge of the tang of the blade. Thus, should. pressure be i applied to the back edge of the blade, the latter cannot be forced closedas the spring finger is overlying-the inner or tang portionof the blade and there is no likelihood of the blade accidentally closing and catching a portion of the hand or fin'gerof theuserf.

4 he will use the index finger of one hand to push the spring finger 31] of the latch aside or from its position over the tang of the blade. Then,

with his other hand, he can move the blade on I expensive construction and comprises but a single stamping, shown as of sheet metal. Additionally,

this latch mea'ns'is mounted without the employment of any extra parts since it is only on the rivet 12 which is necessarily employed to connect the handle-andblade and; the latch device is automatically located byjts eirtens'i'ons and 29 and the position of its body 26 at one side of thetang end of the blade.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is; 1

1. In a pocketknife includin'gahandlejand a blade having a tang, 7 said] handle 'ednsistinei of a pair of parts. each c,omprising a sin of wire folded-onitself substantially ends to provide upl er an d 95 521:- l' l extending substantially; parallel arms',.said parts ra w h a lower aim b ih i parallel side byeside relations? illovifrj arms adjacent their free ends permanentlyrigidltfil cured together to forrn a spring back' fpr engagement by the :edge por-tione of; the tahg..,'ofi the blade, said upper armscomprising side'inern ers of the knife handle havingf 63nd ifiltiohswjacently positioned in subs ally p rameter tion, and a separate pivot stud mountedby and connecting said 'endsand passi ngthrough t1 1e tang of the blade and hingedly connecting the blade to thehandle .7

- i When it is. desired to it close. the. blade, .theluser' 2; In apocket handle-ands.

. blade having atang said handle e o;le1sungfor a pair of parts each comprisirig-a single pieceof wire folded on itself substantially midway its ends to provide upper and lower longitudinally extending substantially parallel armsjs'aidl parts arranged with said lower armsfin'substantially parallel side-by-side relation, said lower'arr'nsfadjacent their free ends welded together to -form a spring back for engagementibylthe edge-D tions ofthe tang of; ;theblad e, said upp comprising side members oflthefknifehan having their free ends adjacently posit 7 pivot stud mounted by said v ends .andpa'ssing through the tang of the bladel'and hinged'lyconnecting the blade to the; handle, Isaid Welded end portions having opposed "greet/earn theirY adjacent upper opposed portions defining-Ia channel extending lengthwise of said'lowenarms.to1receive the rear edge portion of the tangbf; the blade i port o tewhfil.

.: arms 3. In a pocket, knife 7 a bla ev hav n a a s. sai hand e a rested a pair of parts each .comprisinge singlepiece of wire fcldedon itself substantially;rnidway its ends to provide upper and lowerlongitudinally extending substantiallyparallel arms, saidparts arranged .with said ,lower. a ms substantia parallel side-by-side relation, said lower arms ad- 5 jacent their free ends secured together to form a spring back for engagement by the edge portions of the tang of the blade, said upper arms comprising side members of the knife handle and having their free ends adjacently positioned, a pivot stud mounted by said ends and passing through the tang of the blade and hingedly connecting the blade to the handle, a latch device including a flat body located between said free end portions of the upper arms and against one side of the tang of the blade and having said rivet passing therethrough, said latch device rearwardly of said pivot stud having a lug extending laterally of one side thereof and bearing against the inner side of one of the arms comprising said back of the knife, and a spring finger on the upper edge of said body extending rearwardly of said stud and normally extending laterally of the other side thereof and normally disposed diagonally over the upper edge of the tang of the blade when the latter is open whereby to prevent casual closing of the blade but adapted to be sprung laterally to an out-of-the-way position to permit of closing of said blade.

4. A latch device for a pocket knife to prevent casual closing of the blade of the latter, said latch device comprising an integral structure including a flat sided body having a hole therethrough for the passage of the pivot stud of a knife blade, a tang depending from the forward edge of said body, a lug at the rear edge of said body and extending laterally of one side thereof, and a spring finger on the upper edge of said body and extending laterally of the other side thereof.

5. A pocket knife including a handle and a blade having a tang end, said handle of wire and including a spring back comprising a pair of parallel wire portions and upper arms above said 6 back portions and comprising extensions of the latter, said blade pivoted at its tang end to the free end portions of said upper arms by means of a pivot stud, a fiat sided latch device on said stud at one side of said tang end of the blade and between the free end portions of said upper arms, said latch device rearwardly of said pivot stud having a lug extending laterally of one side thereof and bearing against the upper side of one of the arms comprising said spring back, and a spring finger on the upper edge of said latch device and normally extending laterally of the other side thereof and normally occupying a position extending at least partially across the upper edge of the tang end portion of a knife blade forwardly of said pivot stud when the knife blade is in open position whereby to prevent casual closing of the blade and adapted to be flexed to one side and into the plane of the body of said latch device to permit of closing of said blade.

6. The pocket knife as in claim 5 wherein said latch device includes a tang integral with said body and depending from the latter and extending at least partially across and bearing against the free end of said spring back to prevent rotation of said latch device with the knife blade as the latter is swung from closed to open position.

GEORGE M. SCI-IRADE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 825,093 Watson July 3, 1906 1,248,852 Hamming Dec. 4, 1917 1,600,602 Schrade Sept. 21, 1926 

